Holbrook Chamber Looks To Revitalize After Cancellation Of Contract With City

By Linda Kor
   There was a large turnout for the May 13 Holbrook Chamber meeting, with representatives from several local hotels and businesses stepping up to take part in the reconstruction of the chamber.
   In addition to the existing board, new members now include Sunil R. Khatri, owner of America’s Best Value Inn, Demsh Kanjana, owner of the Economy Inn, and Criss Smith, owner of Indigenous Arts.
   The chamber is making efforts to reorganize after the resignation of the executive board president and chamber director at the end of April amidst accusations of mishandling of chamber funds.
   At a city council meeting held the previous evening, Councilman Kent Darris presented what he observed as grave errors in accounting by the chamber executive director and president.
   “As I reviewed these financial reports I was in shock to see how the funds were being spent,” he stated. Among the items he discovered were funds in excess of $50,000 that were not reported on this year’s budget, expenditures unrelated to chamber business, bonuses paid to family and friends with none of the proper forms filled out, as well as general inconsistencies in accounting.
   As a result, the city council voted to terminate its tourism and Main Street Program contract with the chamber, with the city only providing funds for current financial obligations until the end of the fiscal year.
   Newly appointed Chamber Vice President Amber Hill responded to Darris’ allegations at the council meeting by stating, “It is the consensus of the executive board of the chamber to fully investigate the allegations made, right any wrongs, make permanent necessary policy changes and, in the process, re-examine who the chamber is and where it wants to go.
   “In the past two weeks Kent Darris, (City Clerk) Cher Millage and The Tribune-News have inquired into the financial records of the chamber, and we have made all records available,” she stated, adding that the chamber was in agreement with the cancelation of the contract.
   “The city will look into working into a new contract for the next fiscal year,” noted City Finance Director Randy Sullivan. “There is still a lot to work out.”
   The chamber is asking to keep its office in the historic courthouse while the city resumes responsibility for the welcome center, courthouse maintenance and aid to the Historical Society.
   A committee consisting of chamber executive board members including Hill, Matthew Barger, Twyla Taylor, Elvera Weigand, Pat Nichols, Smith, Kanjana and Khatri, along with a representative from the city, will review the problems brought to light by Darris.
   In a related matter, the board approved the services of certified public accountant Neil Ranstrom of Ranstrom & Co., CPA’s PLLC. He will handle all of the chamber’s financial paperwork, including payroll, quarterly tax payments, tax returns and monthly financials.
   The board also approved an audit of the past three years by Colby & Powell, PLC of Gilbert, the company utilized by the city, provided the company does audits for non-profit organizations.
   “The next step will be to sit down with the city (officials) to determine what the city will take over,” explained Hill.
   “The chamber had to change what it was to become funded for grants, in my opinion,” stated Hill.
   Chamber President Matthew Barger echoed those sentiments, noting, “We have been so busy doing tourism for the city that we’ve been too busy for chamber issues. This is an opportunity to do things right.”
   In other business, the board also approved payment of $6,000 to Winslow Trucking for the moving the concrete dinosaurs last fall.
   Hill noted that in reviewing the records she discovered that the chamber was notified four months ago that the dinosaurs located on the north end of town near Navajo Blvd. had been placed on private land. The owner had contacted the chamber at that time stating that they should be removed by the end of May, but no action had been taken as of yet.
   The dinosaurs were purchased after the International Petrified Forest and Museum of the Americas closed. They were to be placed in various locations within the city, but certain permits could not be obtained due to the size and weight of the statues.
   “Those particular dinosaurs were to be placed on the west end of town, but the necessary permits were not able to be obtained at the time,” stated Barger. The board agreed to seek the permits necessary for the removal and proper placement of the dinosaurs.
   Requests for donations by the Navajo County Fair Board and the Northern Arizona Barrel Racing Association were tabled until funding for the chamber was determined. Also tabled was discussion on the summer Indian dances.